The A 9-meter (30 feet) sperm whale has been washed ashore at the Akrotiri area of the Greek island of Santorini.
The dead mammal, which was at an advanced stage of decay, was discovered by a diver.
The authorities will now face the difficult task of figuring out how to dispose of the carcass.
Usually a post-mortem examination takes place to establish the cause of death, before the carcass is buried.
However, reports say that the dead animal was discovered in a remote and inaccessible area.
The Santorini Port Authority has notified the Hellenic Center for Marine Research, which will advise on the next steps.